Costa Rica: regulator calls for improved rural water supply

Public services regulator, Aresep, has called on local water utilities to improve the quality of rural water and sanitation systems.

A study by Aresep of 80 rural water and systems run by local local water and sewerage associations (Asadas*) found that water meters and proper disinfection systems were lacking, and that pipes needed to be replaced. Most users rely on septic tanks because there are no sewerage and wastewater treatment systems.

Asadas run 1864 rural water supply systems, which serve 1.2 million people. They operate independently under a delegation agreement with the national water and sewerage utility AyA.

Aresep proposed measures to protect intake works and water catchment areas from contamination. A study by the National Water Laboratory, published in August 2010, revealed that 31% of rural water supplies were contaminated.

In August 2010, AyA president Oscar Nuñez announced that US$ 480 million was needed to improve and maintain rural water supply systems.

* Asociaciones Administradoras de Sistemas de Acueductos y Alcantarillados Comunales

Related web sites (in Spanish):

• Autoridad Reguladora de Servicios Públicos (Arsep) – Water
• Instituto Costarricense de Acueductos y Alcantarillados (AyA) – Rural Water Supply

Source: Alonso Mata B., La Nacion [in Spanish], 31 Aug 2010 ; InsideCostaRica.com, 02 Sep 2010

Costa Rica: almost 600,000 people drink contaminated water – AyA

Some 557,000 people in Costa Rica drink water that is contaminated with fecal material or chemicals, especially hydrocarbons, according to tests carried out by national water utility AyA. The figure represents 13% of the population connected to a potable water system.

Read full article on: BNamericas.com [subscription site], 03 Mar 2010

Costa Rica: Govt developing US$270mn wastewater treatment plan

Costa Rica’s state water utility AyA will invest US$270mn to start treating the 2,800l/s of wastewater currently produced in the greater metropolitan area in and around capital San José. The project involves the rehabilitation and reconstruction of the sewerage networks in nine municipalities. The initiative is partly financed with a US$130mn loan from the Japan Bank for International Cooperation (JBIC).

Read full article on: BNamericas.com [subscription site], 25 Jan 2010

Costa Rica: AyA calls for reduced water consumption to avoid rationing

Costa Rican state water utility AyA has called on the population to reduce its daily consumption by 20%, the entity reported in a release.

Every citizen must cut their water usage from 200l/d to 160l/d to avoid a severe water shortage in the next few months, according to AyA president Ricardo Sancho.

The forecast is based on a study by the water authority, which showed that the El Niño climate phenomenon has caused a reduction in water levels in the central pacific, metropolitan and central western regions.

The hardest-hit region is Chorotega, where the Jicaral, Mansión, Bolsón-Ortega, Tamarindo and Liberia systems all showed up to a 50% reduction in water levels compared to historical averages.

In Puriscal, a canton in the central province of San José, water levels have also fallen by 50%.

Surface water systems in the greater metropolitan area have not yet been affected, but could fall by up to 40% if low rainfall continues in the area, Sancho said.

The utility may begin to ration water in the metropolitan area if water levels continue to fall. Water will also be distributed by trucks, a measure that has already begun in the Atenas canton of Alajuela province.

Source: BNamericas.com [subscription site], Friday, 25 Sep 2009

Brazil, Costa Rica: Sabesp to sign international cooperation agreement with AyA on 9 Jan 2009

São Paulo state water utility Sabesp [from Brazil] will sign its first international agreement on January 9 with Costa Rican state water utility AyA. [...] The five-year agreement contemplates commercial, legal and management cooperation between the two companies. The utilities will identify areas of common interest before signing specific contracts, through which Sabesp will transfer technology to implement programs, such as combating water losses. [Sabesp] will also provide advice in areas such as construction, operation, financing, production, distribution, collection, treatment and sewage disposal.

Source: BNAmericas [subscription site], 08 Jan 2008